Remembering

My siblings and I are gathering together this weekend to celebrate my mother's 80th Birthday. This will be the first time that we have all been together ( I think ) since my dad died in 1973, or pretty close to that time.

I am hoping that we can make it through the weekend without too much bloodshed. We have been known to be very cruel to each other, as large families can be. I am just so glad that mrangelmeg will be there to keep me from taking anything too seriously or being hurt too much by the cutting remarks of my "loving" brothers.

The sad thing is, with the alzheimer's mom won't even know who most of my brothers and sisters are. The only reason she will remember those of us that she does is because we are close enough to her house that we see her pretty often. Even then it is very hit and miss if she is actually remembering us or just faking it.

I realize this is probably the last time I will see all of my siblings in the same place before mom's funeral, and then that will be the last time I will ever see them all together. I want the weekend to go really smoothly and to have as much fun as possible.

Lord, help me to be happy to see these people I shared my early years with. Help me to remember that whatever our issues we are together to honor mom, who deserves our honor because she gave us all life. This weekend keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

Pax